Morayo by Wizkid

Wizkid Morayo

83
ChoruScore
3 reviews
Nov 22, 2024
Release Date
Starboy/RCA Records
Label

Wizkid's Morayo opens as both celebration and elegy, folding sunlit Afrobeats grooves into private moments of grief and gratitude to create a record that mostly comforts rather than shocks. Across three professional reviews, critics point to the album's lush production and seamless fusion of afrobeat, R&B and dancefloor elements as its defining strengths, with an emphasis on intimacy and maturity born from the project’s dedication to family and memory.

The critical consensus earned a 83.33/100 score across 3 professional reviews, and reviewers consistently praised standout tracks as touchstones: “A Million Blessings” recurs as the album's emotional center, while “Bend” is singled out for rhythmic payoff. Collaborations also register strongly - “Bad For You (feat. Jazmine Sullivan)” and “Piece of My Heart” (Brent Faiyaz) appear in multiple narratives for expanding Wizkid's lane without derailing cohesion. Critics note the album's dance-leaning cuts like “Bad Girl (feat. Asake)” and trumpet-accented gems such as “Karamo” as moments that keep the jubilant pulse alive.

That praise is tempered by recurring observations about cohesion versus monotony. Several reviewers admired the record's warmth and craftsmanship but flagged recycled refrains and a cyclical softness that hold it back from bolder statements. Still, the prevailing view across professional reviews frames Morayo as a mature, heartfelt collection—a must-listen for those seeking the best songs on the record and a clear example of Wizkid balancing Afrobeats roots with R&B intimacy. For readers asking whether Morayo is good, the critic consensus suggests it is a rewarding, if restrained, addition to his catalog.

Critics' Top Tracks

The standout songs that made critics take notice

1

Bend

1 mention

"the highlight of this section is ‘Bend’ as the thumping hand drums take control"
New Musical Express (NME)
2

A Million Blessings

2 mentions

"‘A Million Blessings’ sees gentle pianos and string quartets strut around the bubbling baseline"
New Musical Express (NME)
3

Bad For You (feat. Jazmine Sullivan)

2 mentions

"the Jasmine Sullivan-assisted ‘Bad For You’ is an ode to love"
New Musical Express (NME)
the highlight of this section is ‘Bend’ as the thumping hand drums take control
N
New Musical Express (NME)
about "Bend"
Read full review
1 mention
98% sentiment

Track Ratings

How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.

View:
1

Troubled Mind

2 mentions
58
03:02
2

Karamo

1 mention
33
02:41
3

Kese (Dance)

2 mentions
34
02:54
4

Bad Girl (feat. Asake)

1 mention
71
02:54
5

Time

1 mention
5
03:07
6

Piece of My Heart (feat. Brent Faiyaz)

1 mention
62
04:19
7

Break Me Down

2 mentions
72
03:21
8

Bend

1 mention
100
02:33
9

A Million Blessings

2 mentions
91
03:10
10

Après Minuit (feat. Tiakola)

2 mentions
64
02:57
11

Bad For You (feat. Jazmine Sullivan)

2 mentions
81
02:50
12

Soji

0 mentions
02:38
13

Don't Care

1 mention
62
02:11
14

Slow (feat. Anaïs Cardot)

0 mentions
03:25
15

Lose

2 mentions
10
02:18
16

Pray

2 mentions
70
02:52

What Critics Are Saying

Deep insights from 4 critics who reviewed this album

Critic's Take

Wizkid’s Morayo finds its best moments in the dance-leaning cuts and tender R&B turns, with “Bend” and “A Million Blessings” standing out as the album’s real emotional and rhythmic high points. The record’s joyous, anthemic Afrobeats pulse - and tracks like “Bad Girl” and “Bad For You” - keep the jubilance alive while the quieter numbers honour his late mother without wallowing. It is both celebratory and intimate, which is why listeners asking “what are the best songs on Morayo” will keep coming back to “Bend” and “A Million Blessings” for rhythm and soul.

Key Points

  • Bend is the best song for its commanding hand drums and irresistible rhythmic pull.
  • The album’s core strengths are its blend of jubilant Afrobeats dancefloor energy and intimate, grief-filled tribute.

Themes

grief and tribute dancefloor celebration Afrobeats roots fusion of genres gratitude

Critic's Take

Wizkid's Morayo feels like a quiet revelation, a record written in honour of his mother that balances sunlit grooves and inward reflection. The reviewer's voice lingers on the highs - “Break Me Down” is called fantastic, “A Million Blessings” dares to get intimate, and the irreverent charm of “Don't Care” creeps under your skin - each cited as among the best tracks on Morayo. Features like “Bad For You” with Jazmine Sullivan and “Piece of My Heart” with Brent Faiyaz are celebrated for expanding his lane without overwhelming the record. Overall the album is framed as Wizkid at his most honest and mature, a subtle yet striking set of songs that reward attention.

Key Points

  • ‘Break Me Down’ stands out as the album's most celebrated moment, called "fantastic" and a soaring peak.
  • The album's core strengths are its emotional subtlety, mature songwriting, and well-integrated features that expand his sound without overpowering it.

Themes

family and tribute maturity and honesty afrobeat blended with R&B intimacy and memory

Critic's Take

Wizkid's Morayo mostly comforts rather than shocks, and the best songs - like “Karamo” and “Piece of My Heart” - show why. Conteh luxuriates in the album's "lush" production and real instrumentation while noting a softness that makes tracks like “Kese (Dance)” and “Time” feel like warm vignettes rather than arena-sized statements. He praises the guest turns and the trumpet on “Karamo” and calls Brent Faiyaz the perfect wingman on “Piece of My Heart”, which together make them among the best tracks on Morayo. Still, the review keeps returning to repetition - reused refrains and a cyclical feel - which tempers the acclaim and keeps the album from feeling fully daring.

Key Points

  • The best song(s), notably "Karamo" and "Piece of My Heart", stand out for lush, real instrumentation and well-matched guest work.
  • The album's core strengths are its warm, mature production, live instrumentation, and curated guest performances despite occasional repetitiveness.

Themes

maturity grief/dedication Afrobeats tradition lush production cohesion vs monotony